Water Nitrate

AUS-AKW-LVG-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

7.31 mg/L
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard CompositeFramework Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

The final derived benchmark for water nitrate under best-practice grazing in this biome is 7.31 mg/L as NO3−​. This value represents the upper limit of the natural background range in a healthy, minimally impacted system.

Metric Definition:

Water nitrate concentration as NO3−​ in water under best-practice livestock grazing in Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands biome.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the upper limit of natural background nitrate concentration in water for a healthy ecosystem under best-practice grazing in the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands biome.

Justification:

Derived from the 80th percentile of nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in minimally impacted, oxic Australian and New Zealand groundwaters, converted to nitrate ion concentration. Proxy for best-practice grazing water quality.

Sources (1)

Preview of Wambiana Grazing Trial: Water Quality Update to Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed July 25, 2025
Wambiana Grazing Trial: Water Quality Update to Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed July 25, 2025 Journal

Full article: Reference conditions and threshold values for nitrate-nitrogen in New Zealand groundwaters - Taylor & Francis Online

View Source

Supporting Sources (36)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Late-Holocene environmental change on the Nullarbor Plain, southwest Australia, based on speleothem pollen records - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
(PDF) Late-Holocene environmental change on the Nullarbor Plain, southwest Australia, based on speleothem pollen records - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Late-Holocene environmental change on the Nullarbor Plain, southwest Australia, based on speleothem pollen records - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Mineral Nutrition of Plants in Australia's Arid Zone - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025
(PDF) Mineral Nutrition of Plants in Australia's Arid Zone - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025
Contextual Support

Putting the P in Ptilotus: a phosphorus-accumulating herb native to Australia - PMC

View Source
Preview of Addressing risks associated with nitrates in drinking water - Ministry for the Environment, accessed August 11, 2025,
Addressing risks associated with nitrates in drinking water - Ministry for the Environment, accessed August 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Addressing risks associated with nitrates in drinking water - Ministry for the Environment, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 25, 2025
An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Government

South Australia - Soil Science Australia

View Source
Preview of An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region, accessed July 25, 2025
An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Phosphorus status and saturation in soils that drain into the ...

View Source
Preview of Arid springs: the hidden evolutionary cradles of Outback Australia - CSIRO
Arid springs: the hidden evolutionary cradles of Outback Australia - CSIRO
Contextual Support Government

Arid springs: the hidden evolutionary cradles of Outback Australia - CSIRO

View Source
Preview of Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,
Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

How should we manage our soils to increase soil carbon?, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of Chapter 4. Nutrient limitation in global forests: current status and future trends - USDA, accessed August 10, 2025,
Chapter 4. Nutrient limitation in global forests: current status and future trends - USDA, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Chapter 4. Nutrient limitation in global forests: current status and future trends - USDA

View Source
Preview of Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed August 5, 2025
Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity, accessed August 5, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Turbidity | Australia state of the environment 2021

View Source
Preview of Eutrophication (nutrient enrichment) - Western Australian Government
Eutrophication (nutrient enrichment) - Western Australian Government
Contextual Support Government

Memorandum - Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000

View Source
Preview of Extreme eutrophication and salinisation in the Coorong estuarine-lagoon ecosystem of Australia's largest river basin (Murray - Research @ Flinders, accessed July 25, 2025
Extreme eutrophication and salinisation in the Coorong estuarine-lagoon ecosystem of Australia's largest river basin (Murray - Research @ Flinders, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support

Extreme eutrophication and salinisation in the Coorong estuarine-lagoon ecosystem of Australia's largest river basin (Murray - Research @ Flinders, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Extreme eutrophication and salinisation in the Coorong estuarine-lagoon ecosystem of Australia's largest river basin (Murray-Darling) - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
Extreme eutrophication and salinisation in the Coorong estuarine-lagoon ecosystem of Australia's largest river basin (Murray-Darling) - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Extreme eutrophication and salinisation in the Coorong estuarine-lagoon ecosystem of Australia's largest river basin (Murray-Darling) - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Full article: Reference conditions and threshold values for nitrate-nitrogen in New Zealand groundwaters - Taylor & Francis Online
Full article: Reference conditions and threshold values for nitrate-nitrogen in New Zealand groundwaters - Taylor & Francis Online
Direct Evidence

Environmental Condition Index (Econd) - Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Grazing intensity significantly affects belowground carbon and nitrogen cycling in grassland ecosystems: a meta-analysis - PubMed, accessed July 25, 2025
Grazing intensity significantly affects belowground carbon and nitrogen cycling in grassland ecosystems: a meta-analysis - PubMed, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Grazing intensity significantly affects belowground carbon and nitrogen cycling in grassland ecosystems: a meta-analysis - PubMed, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Groundwater in Australia, accessed July 25, 2025
Groundwater in Australia, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Thermal anomaly and water origin in Weebubbie Cave, Nullarbor Karst Plain, Australia, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Guidance on nitrates in livestock water supply, accessed July 25, 2025
Guidance on nitrates in livestock water supply, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Guidance on nitrates in livestock water supply, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of KARST - Earth Science Australia, accessed July 26, 2025,
KARST - Earth Science Australia, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

KARST - Earth Science Australia

View Source
Preview of Karst evolution of the Nullarbor Plain, Australia - GeoScienceWorld, accessed July 25, 2025
Karst evolution of the Nullarbor Plain, Australia - GeoScienceWorld, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Karst evolution of the Nullarbor Plain, Australia - GeoScienceWorld, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Karst wetlands - WetlandInfo, accessed July 26, 2025,
Karst wetlands - WetlandInfo, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Karst wetlands - WetlandInfo, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nitrate and nitrite | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 8, 2025
Nitrate and nitrite | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZG 2018)

View Source
Preview of Nitrates in Livestock Feeding - University of Nebraska–Lincoln, accessed July 25, 2025
Nitrates in Livestock Feeding - University of Nebraska–Lincoln, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Nitrates in Livestock Feeding - University of Nebraska–Lincoln, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nitrogen cycling in summer active perennial grass systems in South Australia: non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
Nitrogen cycling in summer active perennial grass systems in South Australia: non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support

Water Quality and the Grazing Animal - UNL Digital Commons

View Source
Preview of Nutrient limitation and interactions with organic matter and sediments within dryland streams of the Pilbara region of northwest - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository - The University of Western Australia, accessed July 21, 2025
Nutrient limitation and interactions with organic matter and sediments within dryland streams of the Pilbara region of northwest - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository - The University of Western Australia, accessed July 21, 2025
Contextual Support

Exploring the potential of metabarcoding to disentangle macroinvertebrate community dynamics in intermittent streams

View Source
Preview of Reference conditions and threshold values for nitrate-nitrogen in New Zealand groundwaters - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 26, 2025,
Reference conditions and threshold values for nitrate-nitrogen in New Zealand groundwaters - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 26, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Reference conditions and threshold values for nitrate-nitrogen in ..., accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Regions of Australia: Nullarbor Karst - Showcaves.com, accessed July 25, 2025
Regions of Australia: Nullarbor Karst - Showcaves.com, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regions of Australia: Nullarbor Karst - Showcaves.com, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Resource condition, accessed July 27, 2025
Resource condition, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

KARST - Earth Science Australia, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of River water quality: nitrogen | Stats NZ, accessed August 8, 2025
River water quality: nitrogen | Stats NZ, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

River water quality: nitrogen | Stats NZ, accessed August 8, 2025

View Source
Preview of Surfacing the secrets of groundwater - CSIRO, accessed July 25, 2025
Surfacing the secrets of groundwater - CSIRO, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Surfacing the secrets of groundwater - CSIRO, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 6, 2025,
Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of TERN - Australia's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed July 30, 2025,
TERN - Australia's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 - DAFF, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The nitrogen cycle | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025
The nitrogen cycle | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The nitrogen cycle | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of The Sustainable Grazing Systems National Experiment. 2. Scientific outcomes and effectiveness of the research and development processes - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
The Sustainable Grazing Systems National Experiment. 2. Scientific outcomes and effectiveness of the research and development processes - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The Sustainable Grazing Systems National Experiment. 2. Scientific outcomes and effectiveness of the research and development processes - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025
Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of USGS Fact Sheet 2010–3078: Nutrients in the Nation's Streams and Groundwater, accessed July 25, 2025
USGS Fact Sheet 2010–3078: Nutrients in the Nation's Streams and Groundwater, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Government

USGS Fact Sheet 2010–3078: Nutrients in the Nation's Streams and Groundwater, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Water quality | Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 5, 2025
Water quality | Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 5, 2025
Contextual Support

(PDF) Water quality in two Australian dryland rivers: spatial and ..., accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Water Quality and the Grazing Animal - UNL Digital Commons, accessed July 25, 2025
Water Quality and the Grazing Animal - UNL Digital Commons, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support

Water Quality and the Grazing Animal - UNL Digital Commons

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Superseded
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 3 Jun 2026
  • Effective To 3 Jun 2026

Notes

No lower critical threshold is applicable as the ecosystem is naturally nitrogen-limited. Low nitrate levels are optimal for native ecosystem health; the benchmark represents the upper boundary of a high-health state. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AKW-LVG-WNI family.

7.31 mg/L Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
MaximumOnly Active v2
— mg/L Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
CompositeFramework Active v1
7.31 mg/L Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
MinimumOnly Rejected v1